What  is  the  Matter 

Almost  from  her  earliest  days  Mexico  has  been  in 
one  of  three  conditions: 

On  the  edge  of  bloodshed. 

In  the  middle  of  bloodshed. 

Just  out  of  bloodshed. 

Sometimes  these  three  conditions  have  actually 
overlapped. 

Political  factions  in  power,  political  factions  out  of 
power,  bandits,  insurgent  chiefs,  all  have  profited  by  the 
resultant  chaotic  condition. 

The  effect  on  the  race  has  been  marked.  Little  attention 
has  been  paid  to  education.  Little  effort  has  been  made  to 

develop  the  great  natural 
wealth  of  the  country. 
National  dignity  has  been 
very  largely  overdevel- 
oped— to  the  point  where 
it  is  oversensitiveness. 

An  enormously  large, 
undeveloped,  easily 
reached  market  lies 
directly  at  our  southern 
border. 


Mexico  has  much  that  we 
need,  and  we  have  much 
that  Mexico  needs.  Mexico 
needs  encouragement  of  every 
sort  from  the  United  States. 


with  Mexico  ? 


Mexico’s  Greatest 


MEXICO'S  15  MILLION 


12  MILLION  ILLITERATE 


IGNORANCE  and  superstition  are  twins.  They  travel  side  by  side,  and  in  their 
wake  are  misery,  privation,  and  stagnation.  Few  obstacles  to  progress  are  so 
hard  to  overcome.  Their  grip  on  the  greater  part  of  Mexico’s  fifteen  million 
people  is  strong.  On  the  street  may  be  seen  professional  letter-writers.  One  is 
pictured  in  the  circle.  Their  clientele  is  large — eighty  per  cent,  of  the  population, 
or  twelve  million  souls.  This  vast  army  of  men,  women  and  children  is  dependent 
on  others  for  all  news.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  masses  are  easily  stirred  up  by  the 
slippery  tongues  of  wily  orators? 

Twenty  per  cent.,  or  three  million  Mexicans,  are  literate.  This  does  not  mean 
that  three  million  are  educated.  That  number  can  read  and  write.  In  these  three 
million  are  many  noble,  highly  educated  people.  There  are  also  many  renegades, 
foreigners  and  adventurers. 

In  the  last  analysis,  therefore,  the  good  influence  of  the  educated  class  upon  the 
uneducated  class  needs  to  be  greatly  increased. 


Need 

of  the 
people  are 
lliterate ! 


5 MILLION  LITERATE 


Methodism 

Cannot 

Ignore 

This 

Challenge  ! 


I 


Mexico’s  Second 


This  man  plows  as  his  great-grandfather  did,  while  a few 
miles  to  the  north,  on  our  side  of  the  border,  another  man 
plows  a hundred  times  as  fast. 

Not  until  Mexico  has  introduced  modern  methods  in  ALL  lines 
of  industry  will  she  emerge  from  the  go-as-you-please-all-is-well 
state  that  causes  the  distress  and  hunger  felt  throughout  the  land. 

Wake  up,  American  business  man,  wake  up! 


Greatest  Need 

The  Condition  of  a Country's  Industry 

Is  a Gauge  of  the  Nation's  Life 


Not  all  of  our  62  day  schools  are  conducting  classes.  Some  of  the  property 
is  lying  idle  since  it  was  damaged  in  the  recent  troubles  which  have  swept 
over  the  country.  If  all  goes  well,  this  school,  which  was  ransacked  and 
damaged  in  November,  1914,  by  a band  of  fanatics,  will  re-open.  During  the 
months  it  has  been  closed,  primary,  secondary,  and  commercial  training  have  been 
denied  many  eager  applicants. 

Where  we  have  62  day-school  classes,  620  would  not  care  for  the  need.  Schools 


are  appreciated  by  the  Mexicans  and  crowded  to  overflowing.  And  with  every 
one  we  open  there  is  awakened  in  the  minds  of  more  Mexicans  the  necessity 
for  schools. 

Each  new  school  brings  that  day  nearer  when  the  Mexican  government,  whatever 
it  may  be,  will  be  forced  to  supply  adequate  education. 

Last  year  we  had  twenty  boarding  pupils  at  Puebla  Institute— the  school’s  capacity. 
Here  we  provide  primary,  secondary,  normal  and  theological  education. 


MEXICO'S  MEDICAL  NEEDS! 


The  part  YOU  R church  has 


This  is 

Dr.  SALMANS’  hOSPITAL 

GU AN AJ  UATO 


M 'X  M \ I "T 

Institutions  would  not  suffice ! 


What  Nethodism  has 


MEXICO'S  MEDICAL  NEEDS! 


done  for  Mexico’s  health 


WE  have  been  brought  up  to  believe  that  the  cities  of  the 
East,  ravaged  by  cholera  and  bubonic  plague,  are  the 
most  unhealthy  centers  in  the  world.  But  the  number 
of  annual  deaths  per  thousand  inhabitants  is  greater  in  Mexico 
City  than  it  is  in  Madras  or  Cairo. 

Eight  thousand  one  hundred  children  under  five  years  of  age 
die  every  year  in  Mexico’s  capital. 

Each  year  more  than  11,500  people  die  from  preventable  causes. 


done  for  Mexico's  Health 


What  Methodism  has  dorw 


Under  the  old 
Catholic  regime  his 
vision  would  be 
limited  to  ceaseless 
toil  which  netted 
him  nothing. 


IN  contrast  with  the  usual 
apathetic  look  in  the  eyes  of 
the  Mexican  peasant,  this 
lay  worker  faces  life  with  an 
intelligent  outlook. 


In  Mexico  Methodists  have 
a total  of  103  churches,  chapels, 
parsonages,  and  homes.  Many 
of  them  are  little  rural 
churches  like  this  one.  They  are 
outposts  on  the  frontiers  of 
Christianity,  where  pastor  and 
members  have  sometimes 
risked  death  at  the  hands  of 
the  fanatics. 


Religion^ 


OUR  city  workers  labor 
under  a handicap.  To 
escape  unstable  conditions 
in  the  rural  districts,  many 
thousands  of  refugees  flock  to  the 
cities,  where  they  are 
easily  accessible  to 
the  missionary. 


The  beauty-loving 
Mexicans,  living  in  the 
shadow  of  handsome 
Roman  Catholic 
cathedrals,  find  it  difficult 
to  respect  a religion  which 
worships  in  a building  no 
more  beautiful  or  impres- 
sive than  this  one. 


There  are  in  Mexico  143  native 
preachers  and  workers.  The 
present  constitution  limits  the 
ministerial  activities  of  the  foreign 
missionary.  He  cannot  preach 
or  administer  the  sacraments. 
This  condition  throws  more 
responsibility  upon  the  national 
workers.  The  salvation  of  Mexico 


depends  largely  upon  them. 


NO  one  longer  doubts  the  necessity  or  desirability  of 
a Pan-American  solidarity.  South  America  is  very 
much  nearer  being  ready  for  this  than  many  of 
us  here  in  North  America  realize.  All  North  America  is 
ready  except  Mexico.  As  a matter  of  fact  Mexico  is  the 
least  committed  to  such  a program. 

No  force  in  this  country  can  so  well  spread  the  ideals 
of  democracy  as  the  American  Protestant  Churches. 

YOUR  Church  has  a great  hold  among  the  people, 
but  its  program  is  too  narrow. 

The  people  of  Mexico  are  in  great  need.  They  need  many 
different  things.  Things  which  we  have  in  abundance. 

The  definite  policy  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
of  YOUR  church  is  always  to  aid  such  peoples  no  matter 
where  they  may  be. 

The  Mexican  people  are  our  neighbors.  Civilization 
teaches  that  neighbors  should  be  helpful  one  to  the  other. 
Mexico  is  not  sufficiently  strong  to  solve  her  own  problems. 

We — North  Americans — should  be  concerned  over  the 
kind  of  neighbors  we  have.  In  national  life,  as  in  private 
life,  the  influence  of  a neighbor  is  great.  But  a bad 
neighbor  has  more  influence  over  a good  neighbor  than 


nil  INI 


should  Treble  Our  Efforts 


a good  neighbor  over  a bad  one,  unless  the  good  neighbor 
is  careful  to  put  his  best  foot  forward  and  keep  it  there. 

Has  North  America  always  done  that? 

She  has  invested  in  Mexico  one  billion  of  dollars,  and 
her  dividends  are  distrust,  distrust,  and  distrust. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  must  influence  the 
Mexican  people  if  the  two  countries  are  to  come  closer 
together.  The  logical  vehicle  through  which  this  change 
should  come  is  the  Church. 

YOUR  church  is  already  firmly  intrenched,  but  its 
program  is  cramped. 

Much  has  been  said,  much  has  been  written,  about  the 
possibility  of  an  armed  force  successfully  invading  the 
United  States. 

We  are  not  alarmists,  and  we  do  not  expect  that  our 
country  ever  will  be  invaded,  but  we,  and  all  the  rest 
of  the  world,  know  that  THE  EASIEST  WAY  TO 
ENTER  THIS  COUNTRY  IS  THROUGH  MEXICO. 

The  obvious  thing  to  do  for  the  safety  of  both  nations 
is  to  weld  a friendship  with  Mexico  that  shall  be  like 
hoops  of  steel;  to  forge  links  of  fine  sympathy  which  will 
stand  against  the  gnawing  of  insidious  propaganda. 

The  Church  is  one  of  the  strongest  links. 


We  can  Build  5000 


these 


This  church  building  stands  like 
a beacon  in  a field  of  darkness. 

The  force  behind  it  means 


EDUCATION 

HEALTH 


SALVATION 


I 'HIS  cathedral  stands  for  a system 
under  which  the  majority  of 
M exican  children  have  grown  up 
illiterate  and  amid  squalid  surroundings. 
With  little  knowledge  of  curative  or 
preventive  medicine  and  with  little 
understanding  of  salvation. 


These  dummies  are  supposed  to  represent  Judas.  On  the 
Saturday  of  Holy  Week  the  figures  are  either  hung  on  poles  or 
crosses  or  blown  up  by  fireworks  which  are  tied  to  the  bodies 


A Grip  of  Steel 


Idolatrous  Superstition 


Paying  a vow,  traveling  perhaps  for 
miles  on  her  knees 


DO  you  know  the  statue  “The  Laocoon”?  It  represents  a group 
' of  people  struggling  in  hideous  and  futile  agony  in  the  coils  of 
serpents.  Mexico  has  been  largely  in  that  condition — helpless. 
The  undisputed  power  that  Rome  exercised  for  four  hundred  years 
left  Mexico  in  a pitiable  plight. 

The  Catholic  Church  has  dabbled  in  Mexican  politics,  always  on 
the  side  of  autocrats,  oppressors,  even  foreign  invaders.  The  church 
opposed  public  education.  The  church  prevented  the  circulation 
of  the  Bible. 


The  treatment  that  a 
copy  of  the  Scriptures 
sometimes  receives 


The  ROAD  TO 


A SIDE  from  education,  moral  development  and  culture,  Mexico 
needs  an  opportunity  to  labor.  Immensely  rich  naturally, 
^ ^ and  in  need  of  merchandise  which  the  civilized  peoples  of 

the  world  use  daily  for  the  most  ordinary  comforts,  Mexico  might 
easily  work  herself  out  of  her  poverty.  But  she  has  neither  the 
knowledge  nor  the  initiative  to  do  it  by  herself.  The  Mexican 
must  be  taught. 


NATIONAL  CONTENTMENT 


IABOR  has  not  come  into  its  own.  Generally  speaking,  the 
hours  are  long.  Sanitary  conditions  are  fearful  and  wages 
^ are  low.  Under  the  Carranza  government  a serious  effort 
has  been  made  to  better  this  situation. 

Now  is  the  time  for  North  American  business  to  grasp  this 

opportunity — not  simply  to  make  money, 
but  to  be  the  pioneers  in  showing  a stricken 
people  the  road  to  national  contentment. 

The  factories,  the  mills,  and  the  mines 
cry  aloud  for  scientific  management. 

Welfare  work  for  the  laborer  is  the 
force  that  will  put  joy  into  the  heart  of 
Mexico. 


T\  T\  T\  TV  W J\  T\  T\  T\  T\  T\  T\  T\  T\  ^T^TSTS:T^T-!^TVTVT1TVT\T\  TV  TV^n.'^T'^Ta.T3>.-^T^\^T'^T.V\^-<^T;^X^'T^t^X^Ta>.TS^T^T^-^^T.VT3kT£ 


What  we  propose  to  do 


Methodism  proposes  to  show  Mexico  that  the 
religion  of  the  living  Christ  is  a constructive  one. 
‘That  it  builds  up.  That  it  means  race  progress. 
That  it  leads  to  national  health — strong  children. 

Methodism  proposes  to  teach  the  ideals  of  true 
democracy;  to  spread  broadcast  the  great  humanitarian 
principles  which  have  stood  the  test  of  two  thousand  years. 

Methodism  proposes  to  teach  the  little  children; 
cleanse  them  in  body,  mind,  and  soul;  and  place  them 
on  so  sound  a footing  that  in  spite  of  the  barriers  built 
around  them  by  their  forebears,  their  progress  will  be 
continuous. 

Methodism  proposes  to  instill  in  the  people  wi  th 
whom  she  comes  in  contact  a national  consciousness 
without  which  Mexico  will  never  emerge  from  her  present 
twilight. 

The  task  is  tremendous,  but  we  face  it  with  confi- 
dence. We  have  the  will,  the  way,  and  the  man  power. 


YOU  have  the  money. 


^th  the  Centenary  Gift 


MEXICO -THE  GREAT 


UNTIL  America  declared  war,  in  April,  1917,  the 
conflict  in  Europe  was  just  a war— differing-  from 
its  predecessors  only  in  size. 

When,  however.  President  Wilson  announced  to  the 
world  America’s  reasons  for  entering  the  combat,  there 
crystallized  in  the  minds  of  all  the  Allies  the  ideal  of 
true  Democracy. 

We  were  engaged  in  a righteous  war,  one  in  which 
greed  and  national  aggrandizement  never  figured. 
Germany  was  but  a pawn  in  the  scheme  of  things  as 
laid  out  in  America’s  great  World  Emancipation  Plan. 

In  spots  the  world  is  an  unfit  place  in  which  to  live. 
Man  everywhere  must  be  made  to  recognize  man’s 
equality— his  right  to  come  and  go  and  do  as  he  pleases 
as  long  as  he  observes  the  common  laws  of  humanity. 
America  has  set  this  conscience  standard  for  the  world! 
World  Betterment  is  the  new  cry  and  every  movement, 
everywhere,  which  aims  to  speed  this  attainment  will 
take  on  added  emphasis.  Weak  peoples,  little  peoples, 
far-away  peoples  and  oppressed  peoples  are  to  have 
their  day. 

We, — a people  enjoying  the  blessings  of  freedom  and 
democracy, — along  with  our  Allies,  have  decreed  that 
the  Spirit  of  Democracy  must  be  given  an  opportunity 
to  take  root  wherever  the  need  exists.  The  world 


WAR -YOUR  MONEY 


must  be  made  a better  place.  It  was  to  accomplish 
that  purpose  that  we  drew  the  sword.  And  that  we 
shall  succeed  in  our  crusade  we  are  feeding  three-fifths 
of  Europe,  relieving  distress  and  suffering  in  France 
and  Belgium  and  in  Asia  Minor.  It  is  for  that  reason, 
also,  that  the  Missionary  program  for  the  world  must 
go  on.  The  fester-spots  on  the  family  of  nations  must 
be  cured. 

The  Foreign  Missionary  Movement  of  the  Methodist 
Church  of  America  is  one  hundred  years  old ! The 
anniversary  comes  at  a critical  time  in  Church 
history.  Everywhere  people  are  raising  the  question, 
“Has  Christianity  failed  ?’’  Christianity  has  NOT  failed! 

It  was  the  Spirit  of  Christ  that  cried  out  to  Germany 
“STOP!” 

It  was  the  Spirit  of  Christ  that  compelled  the  Central 
Powers  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  acknowledge  defeat! 

It  is  the  Spirit  of  Christ  that  will  bring  freedom- 
political,  economic  and  religious  freedom— to  all  the 
peoples  of  the  world! 

It  is  the  Spirit  of  Christ  that  will  fill  the  coffers  of 
the  Centenary  Missionary  chests  to  overflowing  that 
brotherly  love  and  peace  and  helpfulness  and  true 
democracy  may  be  spread  broadcast  throughout 
the  world. 


Hungry  Men,)X^men,an 


-k 


ACTION 


Qo  if 


JOHN  T.  STONE  says: 

SHALL  America’s  activities  in  this  new  day  of  peace  be  solely 
commercial?  Shall  the  word  go  forth  again,  all  around  the 
earth,  that,  after  all,  America  is  at  bottom  only  a nation  of 
money-gatherers?  If  America  is  to  prove  by  her  deeds  that  she  is 
sincere  in  her  many  declarations  of  unselfish  concern  for  weaker  and 
backward  peoples  and  nations,  and  if  America  herself  is  to  be  saved 
from  the  unworthy  role  of  mere  merchandising  and  material  exploita- 
tion in  Asia,  and  Africa,  and  Latin  America,  then  the  Christian 
Church  of  America  must  be  ready,  Jii/Zy  ready,  to  send  forth  her  mis- 
sionaries in  numbers  sufficient  and  with  equipment  adequate,  man  for 
man,  to  those  of  the  merchant,  the  manufacturer,  the  engineer,  the 
prospector  and  the  banker. 

“A  Foreign  Missionary  Program  that  will  be  equal  to  the  after-the-war 
opportunities  and  obligations  of  America  must  be  set  in  motion  with 
the  whole  power  of  the  Church  back  of  it,  at  once.'" 


r f . ...  / . 

f- 


i 


i 


GRAPHIC  SERIES 


‘Prepared  by 

WORLD  OUTLOOK 

for  the 

CENTENARY  COMMISSION  OF  THE  BOARD 
OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  OF  THE  METHODIST 
EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


111  Fifth  Avenue 


New  York  City 


The  Graphic  Series  embraces  books  on  the  following  countries 

NORTH  AFRICA 
CHINA  • JAPAN  • KOREA 
CENTRAL  AFRICA 
MEXICO  * MALAYSIA 
PHILIPPINES 
SOUTH  AMERICA 
INDIA 


Copyright,  1919,  by  World  Outlook 


